IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v11y2022i6p828-d829518.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effect of the Belt and Road Initiatives on Trade and Its Related LUCC and Ecosystem Services of Central Asian Nations

Author

Listed:
  • Jian Zhang

    (College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China)

  • Meixia Ren

    (College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China)

  • Xin Lu

    (College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China)

  • Yu Li

    (School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China)

  • Jianjun Cao

    (College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China)

Abstract

Economic development and trade activities are some of the main driving forces leading to land use and land cover changes (LUCC) with impacts on ecosystem services (ESs) functions. As the origin of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) initiated by China, Central Asia nations (CANs) provide a prism to examine the impact of LUCC and ESs changes brought by the BRI. The impacts of LUCC and ecological influences were evaluated. The land use transfer matrix and dynamic index, the Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model, the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST), the Carnegie Ames–Stanford Approach (CASA) model, and the Revised Wind Erosion Equation (RWEQ) model were used to evaluate the impact of export trade from the CANs to China (ETCC) on LUCC and ESs in the CANs before and after the BRI. Results showed that before and after BRI (2001–2020), agricultural land and construction land increased by 59,120 km 2 and 7617 km 2 , respectively, while ecological land decreased by 66,737 km 2 . The annual growth rate of agricultural land and the annual reduction rate of ecological land after the BRI were higher than that before the BRI, while the annual growth rate of construction slowed down. Among the ecological land, the forestland increased by 5828 km 2 continuously, while the grassland increased by 12,719 km 2 and then decreased of 13,132 km 2 . The trends for LUCC spatial variation were similar. The development of ETCC positively affected the changes in agricultural and construction land in the CANs and negatively affected the changes in ecological land. The average contribution rates of the ETCC to changes in agriculture, construction, and ecological lands after the BRI were higher than those before the BRI. They increased by 5.01%, 3.33% and 5.01%, respectively. The ESs after the BRI improved compared with those before the BRI, indicating that, during short-term implementation of the BRI, ETCC growth also ensures the ecological protection of CANs. This study provides a reference for dealing with trade, land management and environmental protection relations between member countries of international economic alliances worldwide.

Suggested Citation

  • Jian Zhang & Meixia Ren & Xin Lu & Yu Li & Jianjun Cao, 2022. "Effect of the Belt and Road Initiatives on Trade and Its Related LUCC and Ecosystem Services of Central Asian Nations," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:6:p:828-:d:829518
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/6/828/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/6/828/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Santos-Martín, F. & Zorrilla-Miras, P. & Palomo, I. & Montes, C. & Benayas, J. & Maes, J., 2019. "Protecting nature is necessary but not sufficient for conserving ecosystem services: A comprehensive assessment along a gradient of land-use intensity in Spain," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 43-51.
    2. Wurtenberger, Laura & Koellner, Thomas & Binder, Claudia R., 2006. "Virtual land use and agricultural trade: Estimating environmental and socio-economic impacts," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(4), pages 679-697, June.
    3. Xuehong Wang & Jeff Bennett, 2008. "Policy analysis of the Conversion of Cropland to Forest and Grassland Program in China," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 9(2), pages 119-143, June.
    4. Baniya, Suprabha & Rocha, Nadia & Ruta, Michele, 2020. "Trade effects of the New Silk Road: A gravity analysis," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    5. Dong, Xiaobin & Yang, Weikun & Ulgiati, Sergio & Yan, Maochao & Zhang, Xinshi, 2012. "The impact of human activities on natural capital and ecosystem services of natural pastures in North Xinjiang, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 28-39.
    6. Adnan, Mohammed Sarfaraz Gani & Abdullah, Abu Yousuf Md & Dewan, Ashraf & Hall, Jim W., 2020. "The effects of changing land use and flood hazard on poverty in coastal Bangladesh," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    7. Gengyuan Liu & Asim Nawab & Fanxin Meng & Aamir Mehmood Shah & Xiaoya Deng & Yan Hao & Biagio F. Giannetti & Feni Agostinho & Cecília M. V. B. Almeida & Marco Casazza, 2021. "Understanding the Sustainability of the Energy–Water–Land Flow Nexus in Transnational Trade of the Belt and Road Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-19, October.
    8. Justin Yifu Lin, 2015. ""One Belt and One Road" and Free Trade Zones¡ªChina's New Opening-up Initiatives," Frontiers of Economics in China-Selected Publications from Chinese Universities, Higher Education Press, vol. 10(4), pages 585-590, December.
    9. Heying Li & Jiayao Wang & Jianchen Zhang & Fen Qin & Jiyuan Hu & Zheng Zhou, 2021. "Analysis of Characteristics and Driving Factors of Wetland Landscape Pattern Change in Henan Province from 1980 to 2015," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-15, May.
    10. Rafiq, Shuddhasawtta & Salim, Ruhul & Bloch, Harry, 2009. "Impact of crude oil price volatility on economic activities: An empirical investigation in the Thai economy," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 121-132, September.
    11. Hall, Alastair R, 1994. "Testing for a Unit Root in Time Series with Pretest Data-Based Model Selection," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 12(4), pages 461-470, October.
    12. Piroli, Giuseppe & Ciaian, Pavel & Kancs, d'Artis, 2012. "Land use change impacts of biofuels: Near-VAR evidence from the US," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 98-109.
    13. Nicolaas Groenewold & Lee Guoping & Chen Anping, 2007. "Regional output spillovers in China: Estimates from a VAR model," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 86(1), pages 101-122, March.
    14. Yang Chen & Wenze Yue & Xue Liu & Linlin Zhang & Ye’an Chen, 2021. "Multi-Scenario Simulation for the Consequence of Urban Expansion on Carbon Storage: A Comparative Study in Central Asian Republics," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-17, June.
    15. James D. A. Millington & Hang Xiong & Steve Peterson & Jeremy Woods, 2017. "Integrating Modelling Approaches for Understanding Telecoupling: Global Food Trade and Local Land Use," Land, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-18, August.
    16. Rahmonov, Oimahmad & Abramowicz, Anna & Pukowiec-Kurda, Katarzyna & Fagiewicz, Katarzyna, 2021. "The link between a high-mountain community and ecosystem services of juniper forests in Fann Mountains (Tajikistan)," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Xixi Du & Yi Qin & Chunbo Huang, 2022. "Status and Prospect of Ecological Environment in the Belt and Road Initiative Regions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-20, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jin‐Yu Chen & Xue‐Hong Zhu & Mei‐Rui Zhong, 2021. "Time‐varying effects and structural change of oil price shocks on industrial output: Evidence from China's oil industrial chain," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(3), pages 3460-3472, July.
    2. Lucy Semerjian & Kunle Okaiyeto & Mike O. Ojemaye & Temitope Cyrus Ekundayo & Aboi Igwaran & Anthony I. Okoh, 2021. "Global Systematic Mapping of Road Dust Research from 1906 to 2020: Research Gaps and Future Direction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-21, October.
    3. Chen, Maggie Xiaoyang & Lin, Chuanhao, 2020. "Geographic connectivity and cross-border investment: The Belts, Roads and Skies," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    4. Herzer Dierk, 2022. "Semi-endogenous Versus Schumpeterian Growth Models: A Critical Review of the Literature and New Evidence," Review of Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 73(1), pages 1-55, April.
    5. Lucchetti, Riccardo & Palomba, Giulio, 2009. "Nonlinear adjustment in US bond yields: An empirical model with conditional heteroskedasticity," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 26(3), pages 659-667, May.
    6. Damoah, Kaku Attah & Giovannetti, Giorgia & Marvasi, Enrico, 2022. "Do country centrality and similarity to China matter in the allocation of belt and road projects?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 660-674.
    7. Kastner, Thomas & Kastner, Michael & Nonhebel, Sanderine, 2011. "Tracing distant environmental impacts of agricultural products from a consumer perspective," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(6), pages 1032-1040, April.
    8. Yating, Yang & Mughal, Nafeesa & Wen, Jun & Thi Ngan, Truong & Ramirez-Asis, Edwin & Maneengam, Apichit, 2022. "Economic performance and natural resources commodity prices volatility: Evidence from global data," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    9. Claude Lopez & Christian J. Murray & David H. Papell, 2013. "Median-unbiased estimation in DF-GLS regressions and the PPP puzzle," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(4), pages 455-464, February.
    10. Natanelov, Valeri & McKenzie, Andrew M. & Van Huylenbroeck, Guido, 2013. "Crude oil–corn–ethanol – nexus: A contextual approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 504-513.
    11. Mamingi Nlandu, 2017. "Beauty and Ugliness of Aggregation over Time: A Survey," Review of Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 68(3), pages 205-227, December.
    12. Michel Simioni & Frédéric Gonzales & Patrice Guillotreau & Laurent Le Grel, 2013. "Detecting Asymmetric Price Transmission with Consistent Threshold along the Fish Supply Chain," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 61(1), pages 37-60, March.
    13. Shu-Ling Chen & Hyeongwoo Kim, 2011. "Nonlinear Mean Reversion across National Stock Markets: Evidence from Emerging Asian Markets," International Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(2), pages 239-250.
    14. Akinlo A. Enisan, 2020. "Asymmetric impacts of oil price shocks on unemployment: Evidence from Nigeria," The Review of Finance and Banking, Academia de Studii Economice din Bucuresti, Romania / Facultatea de Finante, Asigurari, Banci si Burse de Valori / Catedra de Finante, vol. 12(1), pages 63-78, June.
    15. Jérôme Creel & Sandrine Levasseur, 2004. "How would a fixed-exchange-rate regime fit the transition economies?. The cases of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland," Revue de l'OFCE, Presses de Sciences-Po, vol. 91(5), pages 83-120.
    16. de Soyres, François & Mulabdic, Alen & Ruta, Michele, 2020. "Common transport infrastructure: A quantitative model and estimates from the Belt and Road Initiative," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    17. Selahattin Dibooglu, 1997. "Accounting for US current account deficits: an empirical investigation," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(6), pages 787-793.
    18. Canzoneri, Matthew B. & Cumby, Robert E. & Diba, Behzad, 1999. "Relative labor productivity and the real exchange rate in the long run: evidence for a panel of OECD countries," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(2), pages 245-266, April.
    19. Xie, Zixiong & Chen, Shyh-Wei & Wu, An-Chi, 2019. "Asymmetric adjustment, non-linearity and housing price bubbles: New international evidence," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    20. Han, Feng & Ke, Shanzi, 2016. "The effects of factor proximity and market potential on urban manufacturing output," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 31-45.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:6:p:828-:d:829518. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.